- 11 minutes ago
Jesus sends the imprisoned John the Baptist a message of affirmation that He is indeed the Messiah. Herodias, unconvinced of Christ's sincerity, seizes upon an opportunity to have John executed during a banquet held by King Herod.
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00:00The End
00:46Far to the south, in the desolate fortress of Machiris,
00:50John the Baptist was still held captive,
00:53but even there he had heard of the acts and deeds of Jesus,
00:56the man whom he had called the Lamb of God.
01:00And when two of his followers came secretly to his cell,
01:03John begged them to go to Jesus and ask if he was truly the one who was to come.
01:10And obedient to John's request, they undertook the long, arduous journey.
01:16Northward they traveled, across the hot, bitter salt shores of the Dead Sea,
01:21up the fertile valley of the Jordan, skirting Samaria,
01:24coming at last to the Sea of Galilee.
01:27Through Canerath they journeyed, Tiberias, Magdala,
01:31and at last they came to Capernaum.
01:36Do you believe that I am able to do this?
01:39Let it be done to you according to your faith.
01:57Rabbi, we come from the man, John the Baptist.
02:00He is imprisoned at Machiris.
02:02But he has no fear.
02:04His spirit is as strong as ever.
02:06He sent us to ask a question of you.
02:11Ask what you will.
02:13He said, seek out the Nazarene,
02:16and when you have found him, ask him this.
02:18Are you he who was to come,
02:21or shall we look for another?
02:25Go and tell John what you have seen and heard.
02:46We will tell him, Master.
02:48Word for word, as you have told us.
02:55Who are those two?
02:56Followers of a prophet called John the Baptist.
03:00Prophet?
03:00A wild man clad in skins,
03:03dining on locusts and wild honey.
03:04I've heard it said that he was sincere, devout.
03:08Ranting, raping madman.
03:10Enough.
03:14What did you go into the wilderness to behold?
03:17A reed shaken by the wind?
03:20A man clothed in soft raiment?
03:24Behold, those who are gorgeously appareled
03:26and live in luxury are in king's courts.
03:29What then did you go out to see?
03:33A prophet.
03:36Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
03:40This is he of whom it is written,
03:43Behold, I send my messenger before thy face,
03:47who shall prepare the way before thee.
03:52Truly, I say to you, among those born of women,
03:56there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist.
04:01But to what shall I compare the men of this generation?
04:05What are they like?
04:07They are like children, sitting in the marketplace
04:10and calling to one another,
04:11We piped to you and you did not dance.
04:15We wailed and you did not weep.
04:17For John the Baptist has come eating no bread
04:20and drinking no wine.
04:22And you say he has a demon.
04:25The Son of Man has come,
04:28eating and drinking.
04:30And you say, behold, a glutton and a druckard,
04:33a friend of tax collectors and sinners.
04:38Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.
04:42Now you are hearing the truth, real truth.
04:46Not the half-truths of men.
04:48Men who would weigh us down with the yoke of a thousand laws.
04:52Laws that we cannot understand.
04:56Come to me, all ye who labor and are heavy laden,
05:00and I will give you rest.
05:03Take my yoke upon you and learn from me.
05:07For I am gentle and lowly in heart,
05:10and ye shall find rest for your souls.
05:13For my yoke is easy,
05:16and my burden light.
05:33While the Master continued with his mission,
05:36his disciples, by two and two,
05:38were imparting his teachings to the people of Israel,
05:41Thaddeus and James the Less.
05:48Bartholomew and Thomas,
05:50bringing word of a new concept of God's kingdom,
05:52kingdom of a kingdom in which the living spirit of God ruled by love.
06:00They spoke to men of every class and station,
06:04to the rich as well as to the poor,
06:06to the proud and to the humble,
06:10asking not the value of a man's purse,
06:12but the worth of his spirit.
06:14And the truth that Jesus had taught them,
06:17they taught to all who received them,
06:19explaining as the Master had explained.
06:22Patient as he was patient with them.
06:25Eager to share with all men the story of God's love,
06:29as they had learned it from Jesus' lips.
06:34They were plain men,
06:36able to speak simply to plain people.
06:39The first missionaries of Jesus,
06:41they spoke on the streets,
06:42and in the homes in the language the humble understood.
06:50And as the Master had commanded them,
06:53they ministered to the sick,
06:55the lame,
06:56the afflicted.
07:03And that's the way my father taught me to make a splice.
07:06They never lose a net if you make a splice like that.
07:10All that you and Peter say sounds wonderful, Andrew.
07:13Too wonderful, I'm afraid.
07:15If running a place in God's favor is as simple as you say it is,
07:19why do the scribes and Pharisees trouble themselves with a thousand rules?
07:23God's rules are simple.
07:24It's man's misunderstanding that's made them complex.
07:28Yes, but surely those who have devoted their lives to following the law,
07:33and every twist of the law,
07:34should stand first before the Almighty?
07:36No, Jesus tells us that all men shall be judged by their sincerity,
07:40not by their acts.
07:42He said that the kingdom of heaven will be like this.
07:45A net cast into the sea,
07:47gathering fish of every kind.
07:50We pull in our nets and separate the good from the bad,
07:54just so will God's angels separate the men.
07:57You, me, the scribes, the Pharisees, the whole catch.
08:01The good they'll save.
08:03The evil they'll cast away.
08:06It'll be as simple as that.
08:14Far to the south,
08:15John the Baptist's messengers return to the grim fortress of Machiris
08:19on the desolate eastern shore of the Dead Sea.
08:22Simon &�ον chess différent!
08:24Man?
08:37Yeah, as long as faced soldiers return to the Jerusalem Krophiris
08:55You are unharmed, master.
08:57Yes, I am quite safe, quite safe.
08:59For the time, at least.
09:00The whole castle is busy with preparations for Herod's birthday feast.
09:03I've been completely forgotten.
09:04But now tell me, the Nazarene, did you find him?
09:09And what did he say?
09:09We saw him at Capernaum.
09:11With a great crowd around him.
09:12Some sick, some crippled, some blind.
09:15And others, scores of others, who follow him from town to town,
09:19just to hear his voice.
09:25For the first wine, the Damascene.
09:28The light Damascene, spiced, of course.
09:30Then, I think, the red Bithanian.
09:32Then, with the roasted meats, that purple Cyprian.
09:35The Romans always love it.
09:37No, no, no, you fool.
09:38Put the incense up there, close to Claudia's chair.
09:41He adores the scent.
09:42His Villa Capua reeks of it.
09:45Ah, well, what do you think?
09:48Have I neglected anything?
09:49Nothing trivial.
09:50Well, I should hope not.
09:52Every detail is important tonight.
09:54Not only will all my chiefs be here, but the senator from Rome as well.
09:57So you have said, repeatedly.
09:59He is close to Tiberius.
10:01Very close.
10:02If he speaks well of me when he returns to the capital.
10:04And do you think one banquet is going to keep him from telling him the truth?
10:08If your subjects jeer you, revile your name, threaten open revolt.
10:11And all because of one man.
10:13Oh, that again.
10:15Yes, again.
10:15And again and again, until you destroy him.
10:18You, you.
10:19Put the Tiber over there.
10:21That corner's blacker than a tomb.
10:23Every hour you let him live, the less the people fear you.
10:27Spare him another week, even another day.
10:29I have no time for it now.
10:30My guests are coming.
10:31I must see to a hundred things.
10:33See to your crown, your kingdom.
10:35See what you're about to lose because you fear one man.
10:37I do not fear you.
10:39You fear his God.
10:40I, I must prepare for the Senator.
10:43A God unable to release him from his chains.
10:46A God powerless to open the dungeon door.
10:50Oh, how Tiberius will laugh when the Senator tells him that you fear one unarmed follower of such a God.
10:56Enough!
10:57Silence!
11:03Wait.
11:05See that the Princess Salome is prepared to dance for my guest tonight.
11:10My daughter dance for your wine-drenched guests.
11:13It is my order.
11:14I command it.
11:25Salome.
11:28Stay in your quarters tonight.
11:29Do not leave them.
11:30But the tetrach ordered me.
11:31You are my daughter, not his.
11:33Do as I say.
11:35It was his thought, not mine.
11:38He thought his guests would be flattered if a princess danced for them.
11:42The whole country ready to rise because of one man he is too superstitious to execute.
11:47And all he thinks of is to flatter his guests.
11:51Do you know why he fawns on the Emperor's minions?
11:53Because he counts on Roman legions and Roman infras to protect him.
11:58He is of the Herodian line, but we aren't, not you and I.
12:00But surely they would guard us.
12:03Guard us?
12:04Why, I would be the first one blamed.
12:06The woman the Baptist reviled as the symbol of wickedness.
12:09I'd be a scapegoat thrown to the mercy of the mobs.
12:12And you with me.
12:13No, Mother.
12:15Go to him.
12:16Plead with him.
12:17No.
12:18No, I've goaded him as far as I dare.
12:24But there might be one way.
12:27If you did dance tonight, and your dancing pleased him, he would be sure to offer you a reward.
12:35A gift as a token of his pleasure.
12:39In the presence of such important guests, he would be eager to appear more than generous.
12:47He might even offer you your choice of gifts.
12:52No.
12:54No, Mother.
12:55You must.
12:56You must.
12:58Many who followed you now follow him.
13:01But none are certain whence he draws his powers.
13:04Do you know, Master?
13:06Once before, near the Jordan, I was asked this question.
13:10My answer is still the same.
13:12No one receives anything except what is given him from heaven.
13:19As for the people turning to him, so be it.
13:24So be it.
13:28He who has the bride is the bridegroom.
13:31The friend of the bridegroom rejoices in the bridegroom's voice.
13:37And therefore, this joy of mine is now full.
13:43He must increase.
13:47I must decrease.
13:52Now it is long past time for you to go.
13:55I have endangered you, holding you this long.
13:57We are not afraid, Master.
14:00You have done well.
14:03Extremely well.
14:06Now I know a greater peace than I have ever known.
14:10May the grace of the Lord be with you.
14:13With you.
14:13And with you, Master.
14:14With you, Master.
14:21Now go.
14:49After the end of the day.
15:00And with you, Master.
15:02I am very happy.
15:02But I never have to go.
15:02I have to go.
15:02After you, Master.
15:02I have to wait for you.
15:03After you've got the last minute to meet him.
15:03Which is too late in my life?
15:05After I start looking for you a little short.
15:25Rise, princess.
15:27Rise and be rewarded for having given enjoyment to my honored guests.
15:30You have pleased us.
15:32Now it is my pleasure to please you.
15:34Name your reward.
15:36One worthy of a princess of the Herodian house.
15:40Your majesty has been so generous to me already.
15:43Come, speak up.
15:45Your choice of the jewels in my coffer.
15:47A villa of your own beside the new palace.
15:50Ask me for whatever you wish and I will grant it.
15:56I, I know not what to say, majesty.
16:00Take time.
16:02Think what you most desire.
16:03And on my oath as Tetrarch, whatever you ask me for, I will give it to you.
16:07Even to half my kingdom.
16:14Go back.
16:15Demand his gift before he changes his mind.
16:18What, what shall I ask?
16:33Yes, I am very fatherful, as if she were my own child.
16:37And indeed, we are of the same blood.
16:39My half-brother Philip is her father.
16:41And we are both direct descendants of my father, Herod the Great.
16:45Ah, so you've made up your mind so quick.
16:49Yes, majesty.
16:51Then speak.
16:52And on my oath, your desire shall be yours.
16:55What shall it be?
16:59I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.
17:18Officer, officer of the guard.
17:24Put the prisoner John to death by the sword.
17:27Bring his head to me.
17:28Push.
17:29Push.
17:31Push.
17:33Push.
17:39Gather.
17:44Push.
17:46Push.
17:49Push.
17:53Mix.
17:58Much.
18:03Or what woman, having ten silver coins,
18:06if she loses one coin, does not lie to laugh and sweep the house
18:11and seek diligently until she finds it?
18:14And when she has found it,
18:16she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying,
18:20Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin I lost.
18:26Even so, I tell you,
18:29there is great joy before the angels of God
18:32over one sinner who repents.
18:36Master.
18:37Do you remember us?
18:39The men sent to me by John the Baptist.
18:42Yes, and welcome.
18:43We have come to be your followers, Master.
18:45We, and these three who have journeyed with us,
18:50they were his followers too.
18:53Were?
18:54He, he was beheaded.
18:58By order of Herod Antipas,
19:01we carried the body to a tomb.
19:06Now, now we would follow you.
19:15It is as I said.
19:18No greater man was ever born of woman.
19:25Their first missionary journey is completed.
19:28The twelve return to Capernaum,
19:31where Jesus welcomed them.
19:36Now that we're all together again,
19:39I have news that John the Baptist is dead.
19:44Truly, I say to you,
19:46among those born of woman,
19:48there has not risen a greater prophet than John the Baptist.
20:01and he said to them,
20:02come away by yourselves to a lonely place
20:05and rest a while.
20:07For many were coming and going,
20:09and they had no leisure even to eat.
20:26reports of Jesus' fame were spreading throughout the land,
20:30even to the ears of Herod Antipas.
20:34The hour grows late, my lord.
20:38Have you an appointment with the dawn?
20:40I, I have no wish to sleep.
20:43No?
20:44I thought you'd be exhausted
20:46you've slept so little for the past weeks.
20:48Tossing, turning, muttering in your sleep.
20:50I've had bad dreams.
20:53Hideous dreams.
20:56Was that the messenger from the coast?
20:58Oh.
20:59What gossip had he from Caesarea?
21:01None.
21:02He came from the Decapolis.
21:04He brought reports
21:06on a man, Jesus.
21:08A rabbi from Nazareth.
21:10Things must be dull in Galilee.
21:12That's all the news he had to tell.
21:15It is said he speaks with the voice of the Lord.
21:19Wipes away the plague with the touch of a finger.
21:22Has authority over demons that possess the insane.
21:24Oh.
21:25Really, my lord?
21:27And he says that all these tales are true.
21:30Well, then he's either a fool or a liar.
21:32He is no fool,
21:33and he would not dare lie to me.
21:36The people think the man, Jesus,
21:40is a prophet reborn,
21:41Elijah walking the earth again.
21:44Or Jonah or Jeremiah.
21:47Samaritan folklore.
21:48Old wives' tales to frighten children.
21:51Perhaps.
21:52Perhaps.
21:54Yet he said another is coming.
21:57He said?
21:58Who said?
22:01The man whom I had killed.
22:03John, they call the Baptist.
22:06Another shall come after me, he said,
22:08far mightier than I,
22:09with power and judgment of the Lord.
22:14John claimed he was sent by God.
22:16But his God could not save him from the executioner's sword.
22:20Surely that proves he was no holy messenger.
22:23And that the God whom he called Almighty had no power to...
22:28Enough, enough.
22:30It may have been God's will that John should die.
22:34Why must you interpret everything as the will of John's God?
22:38The God of a conquered people,
22:39a God whom only the Jews worship?
22:41I am a Jew.
22:43My father was ruler of all Israel.
22:45I...
22:45You are of the Edomian line, not Israelite.
22:49Raised in Greece and Rome,
22:51given a worldly knowledge,
22:53told of other gods.
22:55Why, the Egyptians have a score,
22:58the Greeks hundreds,
22:59the Romans thousands.
23:01If you must plead allegiance to a deity,
23:04why not one of them?
23:09Bow to another god.
23:11A different one.
23:13Why not?
23:19Yes.
23:20Why not?
23:22I am of royal blood.
23:24I'll choose my own God.
23:26Here.
23:27Let's pledge him with a toast.
23:29Which shall it be, eh?
23:31The Romans Jupiter or the Grecian Zeus?
23:34Baal or the East or the Egyptian Seth?
23:36I do not care.
23:37You choose.
23:37Your choice is mine.
23:38Then I shall name.
23:39Shall we?
23:44I dare not.
23:47The scriptures may be right,
23:49but there is only one God,
23:52almighty, supreme, mighty beyond all might.
23:57And if there is,
23:59and if I have put to death his chosen man...
24:02John was not sent by God.
24:04His headless body rots in an unmarked grave.
24:06But his spirit still lives greater and stronger than before.
24:10All that you sought to silence will not be stilled.
24:13All that John has prophesied is coming true.
24:16Jesus is not Elijah reborn.
24:18He is John the Baptist risen from the dead.
24:23That is why these powers work in him.
24:39During the days that Herod, fearful and haunted, trembled in his fortress,
24:43Jesus continued his earthly mission.
25:06He hasn't slept?
25:08No.
25:11He must have loved the Baptists deeply.
25:14Andrew tells me that they were kinsmen.
25:16But no man can go on day after day without his rest.
25:19Not carrying the load that he bears and the continual demands of the people.
25:23And now his grief for John.
25:25And the fact that Herod may strike at him next.
25:28I doubt if he fears Herod.
25:30He should.
25:31He has a following.
25:33And tyrants live in dread of men with followings.
25:36But Judas,
25:37the master is no threat to Herod.
25:40Any leader on the side of truth is a threat to tyranny.
25:43A danger to Tiberius,
25:45the puppets of Rome,
25:47Herod,
25:47his brothers,
25:49to Caiaphas.
25:50The master doesn't preach revolt.
25:52He talks of love and forgiveness.
25:55Yes, I know.
25:57But Israel will never be free to love and forgive
26:00until her people unite against Rome.
26:03Rise to a leader who will guide them,
26:05order them,
26:06command them to obey.
26:08Another tyrant?
26:09No, a king.
26:10Their own king.
26:11A king of Israel.
26:13One they will accept as a David,
26:14a Moses,
26:15a Hezekiah.
26:17This is an old, old dream.
26:20For three centuries,
26:21people have talked of it,
26:22but accomplished nothing.
26:24But it will come.
26:26Not in a year,
26:27or two,
26:27or three perhaps,
26:28but when enough men are willing to die
26:30for a kingdom of their own.
26:33I was a zealot.
26:35Pledged to restore Israel to its place
26:37among the nations of the world.
26:39For years,
26:40like all the brotherhood,
26:41I, priest,
26:42hate and fight and destroy.
26:44But now I have heard the Master speak of love and forgiveness,
26:47and I want more than revenge,
26:51or temporal power,
26:52or the glories of this world.
26:54So do the rest of us,
26:56and the hundreds that have heard him,
26:58and the thousands that will.
27:01Well, perhaps you're right.
27:05Through that night and the days that followed,
27:08a great weight lay on the heart of Jesus.
27:10The death of John the Baptist
27:12meant more than the loss of a beloved kinsman.
27:15It marked the ending of the time of the messenger
27:18sent to prepare the way.
27:20Now the task,
27:22the full task,
27:23rested on the shoulders of only one,
27:25to bring the word of the kingdom
27:27to all mankind,
27:29to train the men
27:30who must carry on the work
27:31when he could no longer be with them.
27:44The death of John the Baptist